I've got a little itch and I'm thirsty, all I wanna know is, whos coming with me?

Once again, I have neglected blogging. I apologize for the lack of quality time I have given this thing. When I first started I felt like I had a million things to talk about, now I feel I'm just sitting around, waiting to be inspired and it has yet to happen. Then last night I decided that I need to just inspire myself, what a thought.

Lately I've been thinking so much about where I want to end up in life. 22 has really been a year of self-reflection for me. I've feel like I've changed so much and my opinions and viewpoints on life are so different now than they have ever been. Actually, a few years ago I would say I probably didn't really have any opinions or viewpoints on life. I'm sure I will continue to change and I welcome the changes. Change is good. Scary, but still good.

I would say my life is not the most exciting. I've had the same job since I was 16. (Not doing the same thing, just at the same company). I've lived in the same town almost my entire life. Been around the same people, done the same things, been the same places. Now don't get me wrong, I love all these things and I'm quite content and comfortable. But that’s it, content and comfortable. I'm ready for some exciting city life, or to live in another country. I'm ready to pack up and go. Luckily, Chicago and Philadelphia seem to be on the horizon. And for another country, China is looking so good right now. I'm currently planning a trip to China in the spring, and I'm so excited to finally have some immersion into the culture and language. By next fall I should have my Bachelor's in English. After that I plan to get TESOL certified (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) through UCSB's extension program. After that, I can pretty much go anywhere in the world and teach English. China is, of course, my first choice. If that doesn't work out, I can always teach English at any grade level in the US, specifically Chicago or Philadelphia please. I’ve always wanted to live in a city, so I think I might just go for it.

Chicago is my ideal place to live. I love the city, the suburbs, the water, everything. I will take it all. However, in Philadelphia, I have a life waiting. Friends, family, and good times. San Francisco is a top contender too. So we’ll see what ends up happening. And yes I realize the winters are terrible. C’mon people, let’s have a little variety every now and then. 70 degree weather all year round is awesome, but sometimes a little cold would be nice too. Or even, a lot of cold. Now granted, I am aware I am tainted by the SoCal bubble, and probably after a year or two of winter, I will be pining for the palm trees I call home. That's fine with me, I just want to try it out. Whats wrong with that?! Nothing.

I think at the point when I’m really ready to settle down (buy a house, children... maybe…) I definitely want to raise them here, in SoCal. It’s an amazing place to grow up. I’m just ready to see what else is out there, outside of the SoCal bubble.

I finally have a plan. Now I have to put it into action. And to keep me motivated, I'm posting more pictures of Chicago. Ready, set…. GO!!!!

"It's our motto" " What's a motto?" "Nothing. What's a motto with you?"

I have, what I like to call, a "fro" or a "mane" as my husband often refers to it. He is, in essence, calling me a Lion. This happens for a few reasons.

1. I have naturally very curly/wavy hair

2. I blow dry it

3. I then sleep on it (I’m a night showerer. I have to go to bed clean)

4. I wake up from a night of sleep-walking, talking, tossing and turning and WALA, we have a “fro”.

Now, after having slept on said “fro” it’s impossible to try to re-straighten it to perfection after it has just gone through 8 hours of being utterly destroyed. Oh believe me, I put up a fair fight and I battle it in the morning, but it is to no avail.

There are a few possible suggestions I have for myself, and since I don’t do them, I will rebuttal each one.

1. Take showers in the mornings

               A. I would much rather sleep in for that extra 30-40 minutes (time it takes for a shower and blow-dry) than get out of bed. I love sleeping. It really is my favorite thing to do in the world. So why on earth would I want to get up only to deal with the mane on my head?

2. Wear my hair curly
              A. My hair does this thing where it’s curly in some parts, wavy in others, and frizzy to the max pretty much everywhere. If you think I have a “mane” when it is straight, well then you have another thing coming in the curly department. We’re talking King Lion status!
             B. This would also entail that I would have to wash my hair everyday. I have no time for such things. Plus, when you wash it everyday you take away its natural oils. And since I do blow-dry often, my hair-stylist says I shouldn’t wash it everyday. (By the way, all you people who use “volumnizing” shampoos. There is nothing scarier to a person with “Lion-like” hair as the word VOLUME. It creates a fear like no other. I mean, think about it. MORE VOLUME! More hair, more poof, more Lion?! NOOO!)
3. Try hair-styling products
          A. I HAVE! Everyone single one you can imagine. Every brand you can imagine. I’ve used it all. I have yet to find a perfect fit. I think this is mainly because there isn’t one. I just have curly hair, there’s nothing I can do about it, other than be a Lion. The only products that have helped a little are the serums. Bio-Silk in particular, and it makes your hair smell oh so clean.

The thing about this whole situation is that whenever I get my hair done, it’s like magic! Poof! The “poof” is gone. I have sleek, straight, beautiful, smooth hair. No sign of a mane having ever existed. I have watched her technique and tried to copy it, but alas! I cannot win. It is as if the Lion in me always comes out. The funny thing is also that, girl Lions don’t even have manes. So not only, do I look like a Lion, but I look like a male Lion. There is just no winning in this entire situation for me. *Sigh* I think I will try buying a new blow-dryer. We’ll see if that does anything. I will keep all of you updated. In the meantime, I will continue on in my Lion-ess state and hope for Lion-less hair in the future. :)

Oldies But Goodies

Sorry I haven't posted lately. We took a detour and flew to PA to visit the other side of my family (Jesse's side). It was a great time and I really am missing everyone there.

Today I am going to discuss something that pretty much anyone that knows me well enough already knows. I love old movies! Give me some Film Noir anyday. Nothing like a good black and white on a rainy day or on a date night with the husband. I think this passion of mine for old movies began when I was very young. I used to spend summers with my grandma and we would just watch old (not old to her) movies all the time. I can't even begin to tell you how many movies I watched during those summers. I learned so much about the actors of the 30s, 40s and 50s, the "Golden Age" of Hollywood. Even to this day, I would LOVE to have lived during that time. It just seemed like Hollywood was magical, quite the opposite of today. I fell inlove with actors like Cary Grant in "Bringing Up Baby" and "The Philadelphia Story", Laurence Olivier in "Wuthering Heights" and Alan Ladd in "Shane". I idolized femme fatales like Rita Hayworth in "Gilda" and Vivien Leigh in "Gone With the Wind" and "A Streetcar Named Desire". I wanted so badly to be Audrey Hepburn in "Sabrina" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and Gene Tierney in "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" . I'd give anything to learn surfing so I could be like Sandra Dee in "Gidget". I laughed with Mickey Rooney, The Marx Brothers, Lucille O'ball in "I Love Lucy" and "The Long, Long Trailer", Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the "Road To.." series. I wiggled in fear of the Alfred Hitchcock classics "Pyscho" and "Vertigo" and I gasped at the epics adventures of Charlton Heston in "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben-Hur". There are so many countless others, I can't even begin to name them all. Needless to say Turner Classic Movies is my favorite channel. :)

The best part was that everything was rated G, sure sometimes the content I didn't fully understand, but the acting was good and the story line was fantastic. That's the problem with movies today, they have become so CG that they have completely lost what a story is. Not to mention the actors today don't even really have to act, everything is done for them later on the computer. But not those old movies. There was no CG, it was just real acting and raw emotion. Real people in real situations, no tricks or green screen. Almost all the movies they make today are remakes of older movies. And it makes me sick the way the ruin them. Adding sex, violence, gore and everything else to degrade the movie. Sure, maybe I sound like an old-timer but it's true. And don't get me wrong, these old movie tackled very difficult subjects like muder, rape, sex, ect. but not once is there nudity or gore. And yet they still managed to make those movies and get the point across. Now, that is good acting, writing and directing. These days they take people who have no acting skills and expect them to fill the shoes of film legends like Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn? I just read they are in the process of remaking "Wuthering Heights". Sorry, no, please try again. Thank you.

For a list of references of must-see old movies please see my above list or email me if you have a particular genre in mind that suits you and I will do my best to help you with some direction. Happy movie hunting :)

Runnin' Down a Dream

I would say that I am an avid traveler. I love the thrill of going new places and the thought of seeing the world is just so exciting to me. Sometimes I will just go online and look at flights just because and see how much it costs to go places that I can only dream about.

One of my first bigger trips to the East Coast was with a few friends in 04 when I was 17. We went to New Jersey & New York. I never wanted to leave. The weather was perfect, the friends were perfect, the food was amazing and I just loved the NY City life. Now, I live just outside of LA, but LA doesn't have the towering buildings that NYC has. In New York, you feel so insignificant, but it was such a new experience for me, I absolutely loved it! New Jersey, however, was a different story. It smelled and was dirty. NYC was the same way, very dirty. LA just isn't like that. However, what NYC lacks in cleanliness, it makes up for in different ways, like public transportation. Subways go everywhere! In LA, I've heard there is a subway but have yet to ever see it or know anybody who uses it. It's as if it's a "phantom subway". I think if I did ever find it, I wouldn't take it as it is completely pointless/useless.

My next big trip was the following year to my (at the time, future) sister-in-law's wedding in PA. I think I may have even flown by myself and what a thrill it was. PA was just beautiful in the summer. The hills, mountains and amount of greenery was comparable to Hawaii. At the time, it was completely stressful as I was meeting my boyfriend's family and friends for the first time. But everyone was so welcoming and nice to me, it made the trip a memorable one :) Since then, we have probably traveled to PA about 6-7 times to visit family and for other various reasons. Philadelphia is awesome, very historical. I must say that I really loved Pittsburgh though. The downtown is just surrounded by water (3 rivers to be exact). It's a great city.

Next up, I went to Seattle a few months after with 2 friends. Sort of a "pre-wedding" trip. Seattle was something special also. It was freezing, but with all the lights the city was awesome. I think it was on this trip that I discovered my love for traveling to big cities. Seattle had a NYC look, but on a much smaller scale with its own feel. The people were awesome, and from the Space Needle, overlooking the city and the water and snow-capped mountains, I felt at ease and peaceful.

Next up, I got married and we traveled to Riviera Maya, Mexico for our honeymoon. Water was warm, clear and we snorkled like a couple of sea turtles. Had some much needed R&R despite having a hectic time getting there (passport problems). Too bad everyone thought my husband was Mexican, and noone would talk to us in English.

The next big trip we took was to NYC, New Jersey & Boston with 2 good friends. Wowzers, what a fun trip that was. Looking back, I think that was the most fun I had ever had on a trip. Good laughs, good fun and we toured NYC like we owned it, doing everything we could in a week. Natural History museum, MOMA, Ice Skating in Central Park, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, drank local beer and pretty much just did everything I've ever wanted to do in New York. Once again, New Jersey smelled. But Boston, oh Boston. I think it was at this point that my husband decided he wanted to move there. The history is amazing. Cobblestone streets (Philly has a few of those too), and all the places you've read about in American history books, are right there for you. Once again, it has a big city look, but it makes you feel so comfortable, almost welcoming That fall, I took off to Chicago to see one of my favorite bands with a few friends. Instantly, Chicago became my favorite city. I can't even begin to describe how much I love this city. It has everything that NYC and LA have, combined with a twist. You want history, you got it. The buildings are all brick, just like you would have seen in the 20s & 30s with Al Capone. You want variety, oh believe me its there. Every language, food and culture is there. Theaters, museums, suburbs, concerts, clubs, bars, downtown, skyscrapers, interesting people, its all in Chicago. The public transportation KILLS New York, it's far superior. And yet, you can own a car and get around just fine as well. It's also all right next to one of the Great Lakes, which if you didn't know, you would think was the ocean. That Lake is HUGE! The last night we were there, we wandered onto the pier and sat there and watched the sunset over the skyline in Chicago, over the skyscrapers and the city. At that point, I fell inlove with Chicago. Such a cool city, but yet it makes you feel like your already home. In fact, on this trip I decided I wanted to live in Chicago. This was the first time in my life, I actually had not wanted to go home. Beforehand, everywhere I had been had been all great and fun, but I was fine with going home. Chicago changed all of that for me.

The following January, we went up to Canada for a snowboarding/skiing trip to visit some friends. This was my first time to Canada. Honestly, it didn't feel any different except the scenery was breathtaking. Canada really isn't much different than here. We ventured up into Calgary and then from there drove to our friends house in the Canadian rockies. On this trip, I realized how very little I know about Canada. I also never had (or have again) seen so much snow. EVERYTHING was covered in snow, you couldn't even see the city. It was crazy! But I loved it! All in all though, Canada was awesome and I wouldn't mind going up there again next winter.

The next month, in February, we went to Chicago for a week for our anniversary and then headed off to Boston the next weekend for a short 4-day trip and we met some friends there. This was my favorite trip with my husband. We just took the entire week and explored Chicago. I won't lie, it was freezing. For awhile, I thought my ears were going to fall off, and I never remember being as cold as I was there, but in some odd way it added to the charm of Chicago, as I love winter. We even went and looked at a few places to rent, throwing some ideas around of where we would want to live. I want to go back to Chicago so badly. And hopefully in the next few years we can live there for awhile. (Right, Jesse?) Then, just like that we were off to Boston. I would say Boston is my #2 city in the US. Jesse just fell inlove with Boston all over again. Which, I'm not opposed to at all. Boston was awesome, we had some very memorable nights there.


Most recently, our last trip was to Hawaii. If I could imagine what paradise is, it would be Kauai. It's so green, its hard to explain or imagine. The landscape is just breathtaking and the water is like swimming in the bath tub (with a bunch of tropical fish). Even the people were awesome and the food was good. My only qualm with Hawaii is that fact that the humidty and my hair hated each other. But I can't wait until we can go back again.

We've also been to San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, Las Vegas, but since those are all driving distance, I'm not counting them. :) All in all, traveling to so many US cities as many times as I have, makes me appreciate California for what it is and has. I must say, the thing I missed most on all these trips was some good ole fashioned Tri-tip sandwhiches and Mexican food. However, while I love CA, I can't wait to live somewhere else. Experience a new place, meet new people and just live life in a new place!

Next year we are hoping to enjoy some international travels. We are planning to go to China in April and do a Euro trip next fall/winter. Then perhaps, I will want to move overseas. While I want to do all these things, if we ever do decide to "settle down" and put some roots down somewhere, I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else but California, in particular Southern California :) And, for those who would say that I haven't really been very many placse (I've never been to Europe or Asia), hey, cut me some slack. I'm 22, and I'm working on making my way over there.

One last thought, I'm so happy I have such a wonderful traveling buddy, thanks bebe.

Thanks for reading!

"Are You Ready For Some Football!"

Today, I have many things on my mind, and so this post will be quite random. Please bear with me.

Last night we watched my cousins and went out for pizza. While the girls were off enjoying themselves in the video game section, I looked up at the TV and there IT was. No, it can't be! No, not yet, there's still more time left! Please, NO! That's right. It was a football game. Apparently it was a pre-season game, and the real season starts next month. It feels like the season just ended. And yet its here again, just like it always is. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind watching a football game here and there and going to a game is fun. But here's what I don't like: football festivities. Football will literally dominate every conversation we (Jesse and I, but more Jesse) have with others, and after awhile this gets boring.

Okay, okay, Football rant is over. Next rant: The game of LIFE. Now, last night we played this game with my cousins. Is it just me, or are we training the youth that all their is in life is: college, career, marriage, buy a house, family, money and then retirement. As I ventured my little car of myself, a husband and a little boy, I felt as though I was making life changing decisions so rapidly, then before I knew it, I was at retirement estates, ready to die! I sure hope that I get more out of life than that. What about traveling, spirituality, friendships, enjoying youth, choosing NOT to get married, choosing NOT to have kids? What if someone doesn't want to have a career? Instead it was a straight shot of college -> career -> marriage -> family -> retirement. In the end of the game, you add up all your money and whoever is the richest is the one that wins?! So money = happy retirement/satisfying life? Oh no, no, no. Clearly the makers of LIFE have not fully thought out the impressionable youth they are marketing to. But even still, I love playing this game and would play it again in a heartbeat.

Next annoyance: People that move like turtles. For instance, the other day, I was in a terrible rush and I ventured into Coffee Bean to grab some tea for the road. A man is standing there, still trying to decide what he wants. Since he was there first, I allowed him to go in front of me. He finally orders something, takes FOREVER to get the money out of his wallet, then when the lady asks "for here or to go?" he takes another 45 seconds to decide!! Then, he watches the lady making his bagel and asks her questions about the bagel, then when he receives his change, he takes another 1 1/2 minutes to put the money perfectly back into his wallet, and then just stands there for another couple seconds. Then the lady making my drink is talking on the phone, so she's moving super slowly, AND to top it off, she serves the lady who was in back of me, first! I had it, I walked out more grumpy and impatient than ever. I guess I just have to work on that whole patience thing :) Maybe when I have my puppy, that will help! (Jesse: Let's hurry it up on the puppy thing!)

My husband remarked to me last night to be careful not to over-rant and sound like a bitter person. Please believe me, I am not. I am quite happy with life and enjoying it. A good few rants now and then never hurt anyone :)

Don't Stop the Music

Music has been a big part of my life. Anyone who knows my family, knows that no matter where or what event it is, even a quiet family dinner, there is music playing. I can't even tell you how many times I remember waking up to my dad playing music in the morning. No matter what it was, even cleaning the house, we had music on. One of my uncles was a singer in country band, one is a professional wedding DJ, and my dad dabbled in djing here and there. The first time I ever talked to my husband, we talked about music for almost 2 hours and our love of music and favorite bands. Always music. Even now, when I have people over, I also like to have background music on, I feel that it keeps the mood going and if there ever is any awkward silences, well there's noise. Sometimes I don't understand how people don't have music on when we go over to their house. And I don't mean loud and annoying music, just some nice background music is all it takes.

My musical tastes have narrowed quite a bit in the past 2 years. About 5 years ago, I would listen to anything, go to any shows and just enjoyed being around music. Now, however, I cringe at the thought of going to see a band that I barely know. If I don't know at least 1 entire album by a band, I have no interest in seeing them. If I am familiar with the "hits" then its a big waste of my time, because I have to sit and listen to all those other songs they sing, that I really dont care about. I just really only like that 1 song! I can't even tell you how many concerts/shows I have gone to and been in that situation. I think that was for a few reasons: 1) I was easily swayed by what others listened to and what others thought and did 2) I hadn't really formed by own tastes in music yet. Only recently, have I begun to say "no, I don't really care to see them" when people ask. Although, I think it was good for me for awhile. After emerging from that I was really able to know what I disliked and liked in music and felt pretty confident in my musical choices. I mean, I had been exposed to ALL forms of music and had seen a wide variety of bands play live. I felt like I was making educated musical decisions.

Eventually, though, I found myself narrowing my tastes down and I became very particular about the shows I chose to go to. Even now, listening to music in the car, I really only listen to my top 5 bands, and I am completely content with that! I REALLY enjoy their music, I can sing along to all the songs, and it makes me happy. What else would I need? At work, I made a nice "work" playlist on itunes and listened to that almost every day for 6 months at least. And once again, completely content. Then one day, I got a bit sick of it. And I had heard of Pandora and how it could play songs you like based off what artists you put in. So I thought I would give it a try. As a result, I now listen to Pandora everyday and have grown leaps and bounds in my musical tastes. I FINALLY found more bands that sound just like my top 5 bands, and that is amazing! But once again, my old "rut" ways continued, and I pretty much only listen to the 1 radio station everyday. And anyone who knows how Pandora works, if you do that for too long, you find that they just play the same songs. Which is fine with me. I am able to continue my musical narrowness while also expanding it. Quite the oxymoron. But once again, I am completely content. I no longer feel that need to expand in my musical tastes and know every band thats out there. If someone recommends a band, great, I will take a listen. But it has to really move me for me to continue listening to it. Actually, right now there is 1 band that I have pretty much been listening to non-stop for over a year. Prior to that, I had heard them countless times. My friends were listening to them in 2004 and then my husband started really listening to them in 2006. I even went and saw them 3 times with my husband and some friends and wasn't even phased by it. It wasn't until about end of 2007 for me to start to say "wow, I really like them, made me a cd for my car" (no ipod here). Since then, I have flown to Chicago twice to see them play and they are playing about 7 shows along the west coast in November, and I have tickets to 4 of them, one every night Friday - Monday. They are without a doubt, one of, if not my favorite band. At least for right now, anyway. But as you can see, it look a long time for me to really appreciate the music, due to my narrowmindedness. Yet, I came around. Lesson learned: Continue growing in my musical tastes while also staying true to what music I actually like, and not just doing it because other people like them. Music is art in the form of sound, and should always be about enjoying oneself.

As usual, here is a random picture for some random enjoyment (from our class graduation this weekend)

“If you wish to practice the art of fiction, then your horizons must be widened.”

Yesterday as I drove home and thought about this blog, a whole slew (?) of ideas came to me about what to write. And now as I am sitting here, I find that I have forgotten all of them. Oh well, such is life. I think it is important, however, to note that this blog has no specific purpose or point, other than to please my writing needs, and an occasional vent here and there. Most blogs I see have a point: marketing a company, marketing valuable information, ect. Mine does none of those things. So please dont look or try to find one, this blog is essentially "pointless".


As most know, I have been going to school for writing, and as of late have taken a break. Therefore, in order for me to save my writing "technique" I am blogging. However, this particular type of writing has always intimidated me. Since an early age in my writing career, I was always an analytical writer. Read an article or piece of work and write an analysis or criticism of it. I could do this all day and whip out some pretty amazing reports. However, when the dreaded land of "creative writing" came up, I ran for the hills. The thought of writing a piece based off nothing but my own imagination is terrifying, and then to have people actually READ it and then, they themselves critiquing my work?!?!? Oh heavens no! I have, at all costs, avoided all creative writing courses or really any courses that would entail me writing in such a way. Classes like "Writing for Reflection" have no place in my writing career. And now look at me. I'm doing exactly such a thing, and I must say that I enjoy it. It feels good to start writing again. Last night my husband said "keep blogging, and then you can make us money". First of all, I dont really know what or how I would do that. Second of all, I dont think I could ever get enough people to actually read my blog in order for me to sell ads on it. Well, maybe some Unekbride ads. (Please visit http://www.unekbride.com/ for all your wedding needs). Too bad all the people that read this blog are either related to its maker, or are already married. Sorry, I tried.

Anyway, I have always felt strongly about good writing. However, when I have to read a book and sit through an author that goes on, and on, and on about describing every single detail of a scene, I want to scream and throw the book down. C'mon, do we HAVE to know exactly what the sleeves of the coat looked like and compare them to some tree branches or something?! Honestly, it leaves nothing to the imagination of the reader, the author has filled in all the details for us, and I hate that. I want details and descriptions that are important to the plot, character or outcome. Most of the time they are farely useless. Although, there are exceptions to the rule. For instance, Jane Austen. I LOVE her stories. She has some wonderful characters and plots, that I don't mind at all the amount of detail I have to get through. HER characters are truly captivating people. Hemingway does this a bit also, although I find myself able to get through his work with much more ease, perhaps because he's more of a modern writer (sort of). In The Sun Also Rises, he basically wrote about 4 friends who do nothing but drink and smoke as a "lost generation" of post WWI. This wasn't a "short" read either, and was a really good book.

Your probably wondering, "well what authors DO you like". I love realism. Henry James is one of my favorites with Turn of the Screw. I love dark romanticism. Poe's short stories and poems, Melville (Moby Dick), Hawthorne, Dickinson. The themes of their work are interesting and lively (or deadly, pun intended). I also enjoy the works of the Bronte sisters and please please please give me "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennesse Williams anyday.

My knowledge of literature is limited, but based on my exposure those are my favs. Take it for what you will :)

Lastly, I want to post a picture of my husband and I from Hawaii, because I think its cute, so there.